Locking spring hinge

ABSTRACT

A resiliently biased locking element travels in free sliding relation over an arcuate surface throughout the major extent of oscillatory movement of a rocking lever associated with a linked lever system of a door hinge especially useful for pieces of furniture, whereby the door is freely movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position, the resiliently biased locking element engaging a detent surface leading from the arcuate surface close to the fully closed position of the door, avoiding terminal slamming of the door, but obtaining a satisfactory locked door relationship. By having either the locking element or the surfaces on which it runs formed of or treated with a self-lubricating material such as a suitable plastic, wear-free operation is effected.

United States Patent [1 1 Lautenschliiger, Jr. et a].

[451 Jan. 21, 1975 1 LOCKING SPRING HINGE [75] Inventors: KarlLautensehla'ger, Jr., Reinheim;

Gerhard Lautenschliiger, Wersau, both of Germany [73] Assignee: KarlLautenschlager KG Mobelbeschlagfabrik [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 [21]Appl. N0.: 352,535

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 21, 1972 Germany 2219616Feb. 15, 1973 Germany 2307365 [52] US. Cl 16/139, 16/142, 16/145, 16/180[51] Int. Cl EOSd 11/08 [58] Field of Search 16/139, 140, 145, 146,16/184, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.237.239 3/1966 Rudnick16/139 3,381,333 5/1968 Jerila 16/139 Primary Examiner-Paul R. GilliamAssistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or FirmHill, Gross,Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT Aresiliently biased locking element travels in free sliding relation overan arcuate surface throughout the major extent of oscillatory movementof a rocking lever associated with a linked lever system of a door hingeespecially useful for pieces of furniture, whereby the door is freelymovable between a fully open position and a fully closed position, theresiliently biased locking element engaging a detent surface leadingfrom the arcuate surface close to the fully closed posi tion of thedoor, avoiding terminal slamming of the door, but obtaining asatisfactory locked door relationship. By having either the lockingelement or thesurfaces on which it runs formed of or treated with aself-lubricating material such as a suitable plastic, wear-freeoperation is effected.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAHZI I875 SHEET 2 0F 2 LOCKINGSPRING HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tolocking spring hinges, and in particular to hinges of this typeespecially useful in furniture such as cabinets and the like.

There has been considerable development in hinges for furniture doorsprovided with means for automatically locking and retaining a fullyclosed position of the door until the door is deliberately openedmanually. Hinges of this type are provided with parts that arerespectively attached to the door and to a stationary part of theassociated piece of furniture, with a suitable connecting lever system,with a locking spring and detent arrangement such that when the door isat approximately half-open position, the locking spring causes the doorto be urged into its complete closing position and then to maintain itclosed. In most cases the dead center is close to the open position.Therefore, shortly after start of closing a completely opened door, thespring will begin exerting a closing force so that if the door isreleased from restraint, the spring acts in a manner to acceleratemovement of the door to closing position in spite of decreasing springtension. This results in often undesirable slamming of the door, and canhave a dangerous smashing effect on a person s hand or finger.

It is, accordingly, an important object of the present invention toovercome the foregoing and other disadvantages, deficiencies,inefficiencies, shortcomings and problems in prior self-locking hingesof the character indicated, and to attain important improvements andadvantages and new and improved results in a novel locking spring hingeas will hereinafter become apparent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lockingspring hinge in which the locking effect is attained efficiently andwith adequate resilient bias force, but without effecting a closingforce on the door until the door is almost fully closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedlocking spring hinge which has an excellent door locking function, butis free from undesirable door closing acceleration.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improveddoor hinge especially suitable for furniture doors and which has a newand improved selflocking device free from undesirable terminal closingacceleration effects.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of certain preferred embodimentsthereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, althoughvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thespirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, andin which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view of a hingeconstruction embodying features of the invention, showing therelationship of parts in a partially open position of a door with whichassociated;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, generally schematic illustrativesection plan view demonstrating the relationship of the resilientlybiased locking element and the fixed locking and control element of thehinge assembly in fully door open and fully door closed relationships;

FIG. 3 is an outer end elevational view of the doormountedhinge-anchoring socket member of the hinge assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a slight modification;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing another modification;and

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing a further modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS By way of illustration, atypical knuckle hinge joint embodying features of the invention is shownin FIG. 1 wherein a supporting wall 1 alongside an opening in, forexample, a piece of furniture such as a cabinet, has associatedtherewith a door 2 for closing the opening. Supporting and connectingthe door 2 for opening and closing movements relative to the wall 1, isa knuckle joint hinge assembly comprising a linked lever systemincluding hinge arms and rocking levers connected to and between a wallsupported stop bracket comprising an anchoring member 3 suitablyattached by means of a mounting plate 4 to the wall 1. Mounted in thecustomary manner recessed within the inner face of the door 2 adjacentto its edge nearest the supporting wall 1 is a hinge socket 5 which maybe made as an injection molded plastic part. Connected to and betweenthe stop bracket member 3 and the stop socket 5 is a linked lever systemincluding a hinge arm 6 and a hinge arm 7 connected together inrelatively pivotal relation by a pivot pin 8. In this instance the hingearm 7 comprises twin coextensive spaced arm portions 7a connected by anintegral web 7b, with the arm 6 extending from its pivotal connection 8in generally crosswise direction relative to the arm 7 and having oneend pivotally attached by means such as a hinge pin 9 to an end portionof the bracket member 3 located adjacent to the door 2 and in the fullyclosed position of the door received in the door mounted stop member 5which is of generally dished shape, as shown, for this purpose. Pivotalconnection of the arm 7 to the member 5 is by means of a hinge pin 10.Connection of an opposite end of the arm 6 with the member 5 is throughthe medium of a rocking lever 11, and connection of an opposite end ofthe arm 7 with the bracket member 3 is through the medium of a rockinglever 12. Pivotal connection of the lever 11 with the member 5 is bymeans of a hinge pin 13 while a hinge pin 15 connects the lever 11 withthe arm 6. Connection of the rocking lever 12 with the member 3 is bymeans of a hinge pin 14 and connection of the rocking lever 12 with thearm 7 is effected by means of a'hinge pin 16. Through this arrangement,the door 2 is guided by the linked lever system between a fully open anda fully closed position, the position of the door 2 in FIG. 1 being atabout a 45 open position.

According to the present invention, new and improved self-locking meansare provided in the hinge structure which will function efficiently tohold the door against unintentional opening, which will release withmoderate manual door-opening force, which will permit the door to beswung easily and without restraint between fully open and almost fullyclosed positions, unless additional locking or semi-locking positionsare desired at intervals in the opening of the door,

and which will act with only minimal terminal closing effect upon thedoor after the door reaches nearly the fully closed position so thataccelerated closing or slamming of the door are avoided. To this end,the hinge assembly is provided with a resiliently biased locking elementand a control locking cam element cooperatively related thereto.Although it will be apparent that these cooperating locking elements maytake various forms and may be located in their cooperative relation atvarious places in the assembly, and in association with the linked leversystem and either the door 2 or the wall 1, a preferred arrangementcomprises mounting the locking elements in association with the rockinglever 12 and the bracket member 3, substan- I tially as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. For this purpose, one of the rocking levers 11 or 12, and in theillustrated instance the rocking lever 12 carries as a resilientlybiased locking element an integral finger portion 17 swingably locatedin a slot 18 provided within the body of the lever 12 in a plane normalto the axes of the pivots 14 and 16 and with the finger 17 attached asby means of an integral connection 1? to the body of the lever 12 whichfor this purpose may be formed from suitable plastic material as by aninjection molding process, or any other preferred process wherein thebody of the lever 12 and the finger 17 comprise a one piece structure.At its free end, the swingably supported locking element finger 17cooperates with a fixed locking and control element carried by theadjacent end portion of the mounting bracket member 3 and desirablycomprising an integral ear-like projection thereon of a width to bereceived freely in the slot 18 and serving as support for the pin 14 onwhich the adjacent end portions bifurcated by the slot 18 of the lever12 are mounted. In a desirable construction, the bracket member 3 withthe ear-like element 20 may be a metal piece which can be readily massproduced as a die casting.

A cooperative relationship between the locking element l7 and thelocking element 20 attaining the desirable objects of the presentinvention results from riding of a detent tip formation 21 on the freeend of the element on a cam edge surface 22 on the element 20. For thispurpose, a cam surface 22 is of a segmental arcuate shape and throughoutthe major extent of its length concentric with the axis of the pin 14and thereby concentric with the arc of movement of the pivot pin 16,except for a short distance at its end remote from the door 2 and facinggenerally away from the lever system and which provides a lockingshoulder 23 desirably formed on a rapidly diminishing radius relative tothe axis 14. Through this arrangement, when the lever 12 is in theposition assumed in the fully closed position of the door 2, the lockingelement detent 21 will lockingly engage the locking shoulder 23 andresist opening of the door to the extent of resilient bias of thelocking element 17. The locking cooperation of the detent 21 and theshoulder 23 is enhanced by complementary shape of the opposed lockingsurfaces whereby the locking surface of the detent 21 engagessubstantially throughout the length of the shoulder 23 which may beformed on a radius of curvature substantially the same as the radius ofcurvature of the major extent of the cam edge 22 and joining the same ona curved transition surface area 24 at a lobe projection of the element20 and over which the detent 23 travels in movement as the rocking lever12 moves to and between the door closed position thereof as shown inFIG. 2 and the door open position thereof as shown in dot-dash outlinein FIG. 2. Because the smoothly rounded shape of the cam edge surfaces22, 23 and 24 and the complementary contacting locking edge of thedetent 21 of substantial length, an exceedingly smooth riding of thedetent on the cam surfaces assures ease and smoothness of operation.Furthermore, as the detent surface rides over the transition surface 24ofthe cam, bias of the element 17 toward the cam will have minimal doorclosing effect so that not until the rocking lever 12 has reached veryclose to the fully door closed position will the detent 21 attain itslocking effect and draw the door completely closed and hold the door insuch closed position. Likewise, in opening the door after only a shortopening swinging of the rock lever 12 with the opening door, the detent21 leaves the shoulder 23 due to the substantial differential in centerof radius between the shoulder surface 23 and the main surface 22 of thecam edge and the detent 21 rides smoothly on the transition surface 24toward the main extent of the surface 22 smoothly for easy continuingopening of the door.

Although the locking or detent finger element 17 may through itsintegral attachment 19 with the body of the lever 12 be possessed ofadequate resilient bias toward the locking element, in the interests ofcompactness and ease and uniformity of operation, the connection 19 may,as shown, be relatively flexible and mechanical biasing means in theform of a spring 25 supplied to provide a desired resilient bias for theelement 17. While the spring 25 may take any desired form such as coiledcompression, hairpin wire torsion, and the like, a preferred,economical, simple and efficient form comprises a generally U-shapedleaf spring structure the bight of which is engaged on the pivot pin 16within the slot 18. A biasing leg 26 of the spring bears against theinner side of the finger 17 to thrust it outwardly toward the element20, while a backup leg 27 of the spring engages an abutment 28 providedon the lever 12, maintaining the spring under tension for thrusting ofthe leg 26 toward the element 17. To prevent the spring 25 fromaccidentally displacing out of the slot 18 and away from its bightengagement with the pin 16, interlock means are provided on the springleg 27 comprising a return bent or hooked interlock shoulder terminal 29engaging interlockingly with an oppositely facing interlock shoulder 30at the adjacent end of the thrust shoulder formation 28. Through thisarrangement, the spring 25 moves with the rocking lever 12 and thelocking shoe element 17 and maintains a constant resilient bias on thelocking element 17 toward the locking element 20. Assembly of the spring25 into the hollow slot space 18 within the rocking lever 12 is easilyeffected by inserting the legs 26 and 27 into the outer open end of thehollow slot space 18 and pushing the spring inwardly until its bightengages the pin 16 and the interlocking shoulder terminal 29 snapsbehind the innerlock shoulder 30. In the assembled relationship with thefinger locking element 17, ample space is provided between the springlegs 26 and 27 for full range of resilient flexing movements of the leg26 with the locking detent finger element 17 between the relativelyexpanded locking relationship in the closed door position of the rocklever 12 as shown in full in FIG. 2 and the relatively compressedrelationship of the spring in the open position of the lever 12 shown indotdash position in FIG. 2.

For some purposes, it may be desirable to have, in addition to the doorclosed locking position at least one intermediate door locking positionand alternatively, or in addition, a fully door open locking positionand in which additional locking positions an equally firm retention ofthe door as in the closed door position may be provided for, althoughthe additional locking position or positions may be of lesser locking ordoor arresting retention magnitude. As shown in FIG. 4, wherein allfeatures of the device are the same as in FIG. 2 except for theadditional locking positions, the detent 21' of the locking shoe element17' may be accentuated as a small radius projection. Not only is thedetent projection 21' engageable in locking relation with the shoulder23, but also in any one or more desired locking positions along theotherwise free riding or gliding control cam profile edge surface 22.For example, an intermediate door open position may be determined by adetent receiving interlock shoulder recess 31 in the surface 22.Alternatively, or in addition thereto, an open door interlock recess 32may be provided in the surface 22 receptive of the detent 23 in thefully open position of the door.

As previously stated, the door mounting member 5 of the hinge assemblymay be in the form a cast or injection molded plastic member ofgenerally dish shape. For a better understanding of this part, attentionis directed to FIG. 3 showing a plan view looking into the member whichis provided at opposite sides with means such as screw hole bores 33 tofacilitate securing the member as set into the door with whichassociated. In order to withstand the unlocking and other operatingforces to which the hinge assembly is subjected in use, and forefficient and reliable supporting of the associated members of the hingelever system and to preclude looseness or shifting in the direction ofthe axis of rotation, special attachment provisions are made for theknuckle joint arm 7. For this purpose, the member 5 is provided withsturdy land body portions at the opposite sides through which therespective pivot pins and 13 are engaged, and respective slot recesses34 are provided for sliding guiding reception of the terminal portionsof the arm side plate parts 7a. Thus, by supporting these two terminalportions of the arm 7 from both sides thorough resistance is providedfor against the weight of the door causing a shifting relative to thearm 7. Furthermore, continuations of the two slot recesses 34 comprisingelongated grooves 35 receive shoulder portions 36 of the arm parts 7a.By having the shoulder portions 36 slightly extended as shown in FIG. 1and engaging closely within the shallow slots 35 in the closed positionof the door, increased mechanical stability is attained.

Although the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 4 provides effective resultswith the provision of the fixed locking element of metal and theresiliently biased locking element of plastic and thus provided with aplastic detent sliding shoe in engagement with the control surface ofthe fixed element, for situations where an even more wear-resistantrelationship and to extend the life expectancy attainable where one ofthe elements has a plastic rubbing or shoe surface, the exemplaryembodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be employed. In these forms of theinvention, the fixed locking and control element 20 comprises a metalcore 37 which may be similarly as in the case of the previouslydescribed element 20 formed integrally with the mounting bracket member3 and serve as pivot anchorage through the pivot pin 14' for the rockinglever 12' which carries the pivot pin 16 by which the lever isoperatively connected with the hinge lever system. To provide a lobedcontrol cam surface a plastic cover 38 is permanently mounted on thecore 37. If preferred for proper conditions, the en tire element 20 maybe made from plastic either integral with the bracket member 3 orsecured thereto. Through this arrangement, a continuous plastic controland locking surface structure is provided including a semicircularsegmental free riding surface length 22' (FIG. 5) a locking surface 23'and a transition arcuate surface 24' between the surface portions 22'and 23'. Thereby a long plastic path is provided for engagement by theresiliently biased locking element which in this instance comprises thespring 25 directly having on its tensioned leg 26' a locking interlockshoe 39 functioning to engage in locking relation with the lockingshoulder surface 23 in the closed door position of the lever 12 andgliding with limited contact over the surfaces 22' and 24' in theopening and closing movements of the door whereby wear per unit area isdiminished to a minimal fraction. In this instance, of course, thehollow space provided by the slot 18 within the lever 12' is fully opentoward the fixed element 20 for thrusting of the spring leg 26'thereagainst as maintained under tension by backing of the leg 27 ofthis U-shaped spring 25' against the shoulder surface 28' within thelever. Interlocking of the spring leg 27' against displacement of thespring 25 from the hollow lever 12, in cooperation with the pivot pin 16about which the bight of the spring is engaged, is provided for by aninterlock lug 4O projecting inwardly from the thrust shoulder surface 27into an interlock aperture 41 formed in the leg 27'. In thisconstruction, similarly as in the previously described construction, thespring 25' is adapted to be assembled by thrusting its legs into thehollow 18 within the lever 12' until the spring bight engages about thepivot pin 16' and the interlock aperture 41 receives the interlock lug40 and at which time the turned detent shoe 39 of the spring leg 26'will engage tensionably with the fixed locking member 20.

Another feature which may be noted in the form of FIG. 5 resides in thatthe dead center position between the resiliently biased and fixedlocking elements, as represented by the transition surface 24' betweenthe free riding surface 22' and the locking surface 23' is extended inthe door closing direction as compared, for example, with the positionof the intermediate or dead center surface 24 in FIG. 2. Thereby, onclosing of the door, a slightly greater closing push force must beexerted in order to overcome the slightly increased tensioning of thelocking spring to move it beyond dead center to the closing position. Inaddition, of course, the closing effect is improved in the last shortinterval of movement to the fully closed position, and the resilientlybiased locking element attains a particularly advantageous lockingtension with the locking surface 23'.

If it is desired to shorten the interval at closing of the door duringwhich the resiliently biased locking element assumes locking control,the dead center position may be correspondingly lengthened in thedirection of the door closing movement, as represented in FIG. 6.Therein all parts of the disclosure are the same as in FIG. 5, exceptthat the plastic cam surface part 38' has an extended lobe 42 whichthereby effects an extension in length of the free glide surface 22"whereby the spring leg 26' is placed under substantial increased tensionas it approaches the transition surface 24" and the locking engagementof the spring leg 26' occurs in the final very close to door closedposition with the locking engagement of the leg with the locking surface23" occurring close to the surface 24" in an extremely small interval oftravel. However, by reason of the substantially increased tensioning ofthe locking spring, immediately upon leaving the dead center position tothe locking position, an extremely reliable tension locking relationshipis attained, the locking tension being greater than in either of theforms of FIG. 2 or 5. Because the locking engagement of the spring withthe fixed locking element is so close to the arcuate transition surface24", a smooth opening of the door can be readily effected when desired.Moreover, due to the substantial tension of the locking spring elementleg 26' thrusting against the beginning reach of the glide surface 22after leaving the transition surface 24", a desirable door opening biasis provided to facilitate opening of the associated door, with thetension diminishing as the rocking lever 12 advances toward the fullyopen door position.

It will thus be apparent that the embodiments of FIGS. and 6 provide fora wide selective range of locking spring action to meet numerous andvaried requirements. Such variations can be attained in a particularlysimple and inexpensive manner in that it is not necessary to produce aspecial hinge construction for each requirement, but the desired resultcan be attained by varying the cam surface profile of the plasticcontrol portion 38, 38 of the fixed locking element Thereby the corepart 37 and other parts of the hinge assembly can be standardized inconstruction, and any selected form of the plastic portion, of which arange of sizes may be stocked in inventory, can be applied to thestandard core. Product costs and inventory problems are thus reducedwhile enabling inexpensive attainment of a large range of cam surfaceprofiles to meet numerous requirements speedily.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonablyand properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A locking spring hinge having means for fixed mounting on a walladjacent an access opening in a piece of furniture, means for mountingto a door adapted to close the opening, and articulating lever armstructure pivotally connected to and between said means and operable tosupport the door and control movement of the door between open andclosed positions relative to the opening, comprising:

an oscillatable rocking lever pivotally connected at one end to a leverarm of said lever arm structure and pivotally connected at an oppositeend to one of said means;

a locking element carried by and movable with said rocking lever;

a locking element carried by said one means;

one of said locking elements being resiliently biased toward the otherof said locking elements;

said other locking element having a glide surface along which saidbiased locking element rides and maintaining said one element againstbias thrust effect in a closed door direction throughout a major extentof rocking oscillations of said rocking lever between the open door andclosed door positions;

said other locking element having a locking shoulder surface leadingfrom said glide surface and with which shoulder surface said biasedlocking element engages in the closed door position of said rockinglever for thereby maintaining the closed door position by resilientthrust of the biased locking element against said locking shouldersurface;

said other of said locking elements comprising a mounting ear rigid withsaid one of said means;

said rocking lever having a slot within which said ear is received;

pivot means connecting the rocking lever to said ear;

said ear having said glide and locking shoulder surfaces thereon in camprofile; and

said resiliently biased locking element being carried by said rockinglever within said slot.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, said rocking lever having a pivot pinextending across said slot spaced from said fixed locking element, andsaid resiliently biased locking element including a generally U-shapedspring having its bight engaged over said pivot pin, shoulder means onsaid lever and providing a thrust backing for one leg of said spring,and another leg of said spring being thereby maintained in tensionedbias toward said fixed locking element.

3. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein said other locking elementcomprises a metal core having fixedly thereon a plastic portionproviding said surfaces.

4. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein said other locking element hasa lobed cam profile providing said surfaces and including a lobeextension of said glide surface in the direction of closing movement ofsaid resiliently biased element along the glide surface effecting anincrease of tension of the biased element as it approaches a dead centerposition adjacent to said locking shoulder surface, and movement of saidresiliently biased element from dead center to said locking surfacebeing within a small incremental remaining movement of said rockinglever into the closed door position, whereby to avoid acceleration inthe door closing movement.

5. A locking spring hinge having first means for fixed mounting on awall adjacent an access opening in a piece of furniture, second meansfor mounting to a door adapted to close the opening, and articulatinglever arm structure pivotally connected to and between said means andoperable to support the door and control movement of the door betweenopen and closed positions relative to the opening, comprising:

an oscillatable rocking lever pivotally connected at one end to a leverarm of said lever arm structure and pivotally connected at an oppositeend to said first means;

a locking element carried fixedly by said one means adjacent to saidrocking lever and having a glide surface and a locking shoulder surfaceleading from said glide surface;

a resiliently biased locking element comprising a generally U-shapedspring carried by and movable with said oscillatable rocking lever andhaving one leg biased toward said glide and locking surfaces; and

said rocking lever being made from plastic material and having alow-friction detent shoe comprising a finger element integrallyconnected flexibly with the rocking lever and interposed between saidspring leg and said surfaces and functioning in oscillating movements ofthe rocking lever to ride along said surfaces, maintaining the elementsfree from door closing bias effect of the spring while the detent shoerides said glide surface and effecting a door closing engagement withsaid locking shoulder in the closed door position of the elements.

6. A locking spring hinge having means for fixed mounting on a walladjacent an access opening in a piece of furniture, means for mountingto a door adapted to close the opening, and articulating lever armstructure pivotally connected to and between said means and operable tosupport the door and control movement of the door between open andclosed positions relative to the opening, comprising:

an oscillatable rocking lever pivotally connected at one end to a leverarm of said lever arm structure and pivotally connected at an oppositeend to one of said means;

a locking element carried by and movable with said rocking lever;

a locking element carried by said one means;

one of said locking elements being resiliently biased toward the otherof said locking elements;

said other locking element having a glide surface along which saidbiased locking element rides and maintaining said one element againstbias thrust effeet in a closed door direction throughout a major extentof rocking oscillations of said rocking lever between the open door andclosed door positions;

said other locking element having a locking shoulder surface leadingfrom said glide surface and with which shoulder surface said biasedlocking element engages in the closed door position of said rockinglever for thereby maintaining the closed door position by resilientthrust of the biased locking element against said locking shouldersurface;

a lever arm pivotally attached at one end to said rocking lever andhaving an opposite end comprising a pair of spaced co-extensive parallelside portions;

the remaining of said mounting means comprising a member having parallelslots therein within which said parallel side portions are pivotallyengaged; and

a pivot pin securing said parallel side portions pivotally to saidmounting member and in said slots.

7. A knuckle joint hinge assembly including a first member adapted to bemounted on a wall adjacent to an opening adapted to be closed by a doorand a second member adapted to be mounted on the door, comprismg:

a hinge arm connected to the second member;

a rocking lever for at least controllably connecting the rocking leverwith said one member, including means pivotally connecting the rockinglever to said one member and a hinge pin connecting the rocking lever tosaid hinge arm;

a U-shaped locking spring having a closed end engaged about said hingepin with one leg of the spring bearing against a fixed abutment on saidavoids influencing the door in closing direction;

and

said guide surface having an end portion of substantially decreasedradius and leading to a locking surface such that the second spring legcan act with an easy transition from the open door bias toward saidarcuate portion of the surface to the locking portion of the surfacewherein bias of the second leg maintains the closed door positionreleasably.

8. A knuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein saidsurface comprises a low friction plastic material.

9. A knuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein saidsurface comprises a lobed cam profile including a lobe extension of saidarcuate surface portion in the direction of closing movement of thesecond spring leg along the surface and effecting an increase of tensionof the second leg as it approaches a dead center position adjacent tosaid locking portion of the surface, and movement of said second legfrom the dead center position to the locking portion of the surfacebeing within a small incremental remaining movement of the rocking leverinto its closed door position, whereby to avoid acceleration in the doorclosing movement.

10. A knuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein saidsurface is provided on a mounting ear rigid with said first member, saidrocking lever having a slot within which said ear is received, pivotmeans connecting the rocking lever to said ear, and said spring beinglocated within said slot.

11. A knuckel joint hinge assembly according to claim 10, including alow-friction detent shoe comprising a finger element flexibly connectedto the rocking lever within said slot and interposed between said secondspring leg and said surface.

12. A knuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein saidsecond spring leg engages directly with said surface.

13. A knuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, includingcomplementary interlocked interlock means on said first spring leg andon said rocking lever.

14. A knuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein saidhinge arm has one end thereof pivotally connected to said rocking leverby said hinge pin and has in the opposite end thereof a pair of spacedcoextensive parallel side portions, said second mounting member havingparallel slots therein within which said parallel side portions arepivotally engaged, and a pivot pin traversing said slots and extendingthrough said side portions.

1. A locking spring hinge having means for fixed mounting on a walladjacent an access opening in a piece of furniture, means for mountingto a door adapted to close the opening, and articulating lever armstructure pivotally connected to and between said means and operable tosupport the door and control movement of the door between open andclosed positions relative to the opening, comprising: an oscillatablerocking lever pivotally connected at one end to a lever arm of saidlever arm structure and pivotally connected at an opposite end to one ofsaid means; a locking element carried by and movable with said rockinglever; a locking element carried by said one means; one of said lockingelements being resiliently biased toward the other of said lockingelements; said other locking element having a glide surface along whichsaid biased locking element rides and maintaining said one elementagainst bias thrust effect in a closed door direction throughout a majorextent of rocking oscillations of said rocking lever between the opendoor and closed door positions; said other locking element having alocking shoulder surface leading from said glide surface and with whichshoulder surface said biased locking element engages in the closed doorposition of said rocking lever for thereby maintaining the closed doorposition by resilient thrust of the biased locking element against saidlocking shoulder surface; said other of said locking elements comprisinga mounting ear rigid with said one of said means; said rocking leverhaving a slot within which said ear is received; pivot means connectingthe rocking lever to said ear; said ear having said glide and lockingshoulder surfaces thereon in cam profile; and said resiliently biasedlocking element being carried by said rocking lever within said slot. 2.A hinge according to claim 1, said rocking lever having a pivot pinextending across said slot spaced from said fixed locking element, andsaid resiliently biased locking element including a generally U-shapedspring having its bight engaged over said pivot pin, shoulder means onsaid lever and providing a thrust backing for one leg of said spring,and another leg of said spring being thereby maintained in tensionedbias toward said fixed locking element.
 3. A hinge according to claim 1,wherein said other locking element comprises a metal core having fixedlythereon a plastic portion providing said surfaces.
 4. A hinge accordingto claim 1, wherein said other locking element has a lobed cam profileproviding said surfaces and including a lobe extension of said glidesurface in the direction of closing movement of said resiliently biasedelement along the glide surface effecting an increase of tension of thebiased element as it approaches a dead center position adjacent to saidlocking shoulder surface, and movement of said resiliently biasedelement from dead center to said locking surface being within a smallincremental remaining movement of said rocking lever into the cloSeddoor position, whereby to avoid acceleration in the door closingmovement.
 5. A locking spring hinge having first means for fixedmounting on a wall adjacent an access opening in a piece of furniture,second means for mounting to a door adapted to close the opening, andarticulating lever arm structure pivotally connected to and between saidmeans and operable to support the door and control movement of the doorbetween open and closed positions relative to the opening, comprising:an oscillatable rocking lever pivotally connected at one end to a leverarm of said lever arm structure and pivotally connected at an oppositeend to said first means; a locking element carried fixedly by said onemeans adjacent to said rocking lever and having a glide surface and alocking shoulder surface leading from said glide surface; a resilientlybiased locking element comprising a generally U-shaped spring carried byand movable with said oscillatable rocking lever and having one legbiased toward said glide and locking surfaces; and said rocking leverbeing made from plastic material and having a low-friction detent shoecomprising a finger element integrally connected flexibly with therocking lever and interposed between said spring leg and said surfacesand functioning in oscillating movements of the rocking lever to ridealong said surfaces, maintaining the elements free from door closingbias effect of the spring while the detent shoe rides said glide surfaceand effecting a door closing engagement with said locking shoulder inthe closed door position of the elements.
 6. A locking spring hingehaving means for fixed mounting on a wall adjacent an access opening ina piece of furniture, means for mounting to a door adapted to close theopening, and articulating lever arm structure pivotally connected to andbetween said means and operable to support the door and control movementof the door between open and closed positions relative to the opening,comprising: an oscillatable rocking lever pivotally connected at one endto a lever arm of said lever arm structure and pivotally connected at anopposite end to one of said means; a locking element carried by andmovable with said rocking lever; a locking element carried by said onemeans; one of said locking elements being resiliently biased toward theother of said locking elements; said other locking element having aglide surface along which said biased locking element rides andmaintaining said one element against bias thrust effect in a closed doordirection throughout a major extent of rocking oscillations of saidrocking lever between the open door and closed door positions; saidother locking element having a locking shoulder surface leading fromsaid glide surface and with which shoulder surface said biased lockingelement engages in the closed door position of said rocking lever forthereby maintaining the closed door position by resilient thrust of thebiased locking element against said locking shoulder surface; a leverarm pivotally attached at one end to said rocking lever and having anopposite end comprising a pair of spaced co-extensive parallel sideportions; the remaining of said mounting means comprising a memberhaving parallel slots therein within which said parallel side portionsare pivotally engaged; and a pivot pin securing said parallel sideportions pivotally to said mounting member and in said slots.
 7. Aknuckle joint hinge assembly including a first member adapted to bemounted on a wall adjacent to an opening adapted to be closed by a doorand a second member adapted to be mounted on the door, comprising: ahinge arm connected to the second member; a rocking lever for at leastcontrollably connecting the rocking lever with said one member,including means pivotally connecting the rocking lever to said onemember and a hinge pin connecting the rocking lever to said hinge arm; aU-shaped locking spring having a cLosed end engaged about said hinge pinwith one leg of the spring bearing against a fixed abutment on saidrocking lever; a guide surface fixedly on said one member and towardwhich a second arm of the spring thrusts with spring bias; said guidesurface having a portion thereof which is arcuate substantiallyconcentric with an arc of movement of said hinge pin in movements of thehinge arm and rocking lever during opening and closing movements of thedoor such that bias of said second spring leg toward the arcuate surfaceavoids influencing the door in closing direction; and said guide surfacehaving an end portion of substantially decreased radius and leading to alocking surface such that the second spring leg can act with an easytransition from the open door bias toward said arcuate portion of thesurface to the locking portion of the surface wherein bias of the secondleg maintains the closed door position releasably.
 8. A knuckle jointhinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein said surface comprises alow friction plastic material.
 9. A knuckle joint hinge assemblyaccording to claim 7, wherein said surface comprises a lobed cam profileincluding a lobe extension of said arcuate surface portion in thedirection of closing movement of the second spring leg along the surfaceand effecting an increase of tension of the second leg as it approachesa dead center position adjacent to said locking portion of the surface,and movement of said second leg from the dead center position to thelocking portion of the surface being within a small incrementalremaining movement of the rocking lever into its closed door position,whereby to avoid acceleration in the door closing movement.
 10. Aknuckle joint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein said surfaceis provided on a mounting ear rigid with said first member, said rockinglever having a slot within which said ear is received, pivot meansconnecting the rocking lever to said ear, and said spring being locatedwithin said slot.
 11. A knuckel joint hinge assembly according to claim10, including a low-friction detent shoe comprising a finger elementflexibly connected to the rocking lever within said slot and interposedbetween said second spring leg and said surface.
 12. A knuckle jointhinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein said second spring legengages directly with said surface.
 13. A knuckle joint hinge assemblyaccording to claim 7, including complementary interlocked interlockmeans on said first spring leg and on said rocking lever.
 14. A knucklejoint hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein said hinge arm hasone end thereof pivotally connected to said rocking lever by said hingepin and has in the opposite end thereof a pair of spaced coextensiveparallel side portions, said second mounting member having parallelslots therein within which said parallel side portions are pivotallyengaged, and a pivot pin traversing said slots and extending throughsaid side portions.